Native to the West Indies and northern South America. Cultivated
sporadically throughout the tropics.

Botanical Synonyms

Mammea emarginata.

Description

Large tree, to 50-60 feet (15-18 m) tall, with a straight trunk
and a rounded, dense crown. The new bark is bright green and smooth, becoming
dark brown and rough with age. All parts of the plant exude yellow latex when
wounded. The large, thick leaves are opposite, elliptical, glossy and bright green, from 3-6
inches (8-15 cm) in length and 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) wide. The white, fragrant flowers are solitary or in
axillary clusters, and may be perfect or unisexual. The fruit is large and round,
4-10 inches (10-25 cm) in diameter, with a brown rind covering yellow orange
pulp. The pulp is firm and slightly juicy, with a pleasant taste reminiscent of
apricot or peach. Seeds are large, brown and rough textured, 2.5-3 inches
(6.4-8 cm) long, and usually 1-2 per fruit.

Propagation and Culture

Mamey
is usually propagated by seed, but are also grafted. Grafted trees bear
fruit sooner, stay smaller, are hermaphrodite, and have predictable fruit
quality. The seeds germinate slowly, taking from 40-260 days. Fresh
seeds have a germination percentage of close to 100%. Trees can be transplanted to the field after
1-2 years, when they are a foot (30 cm) or more in height.

Mamey
grows best in a fertile, well drained soil with high organic
matter content, but will tolerate heavy, poor, acid soils.Trees should be fertilized every 3-4 months during the
first 3 years of growth, and thereafter 1-2 times per year. Mulching is
recommended to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil, conserve moisture
and control weeds. Mamey grows from sea level to over 3,000 feet (914 m)
elevation.

Seedling
trees begin to bear fruits in 6-8 years, grafted trees in 3-5 years from
planting. Fruits ripen from July through September in Puerto Rico, and
fall to the ground when they are ripe. They can also be picked when they
reach full size and show an external color change from greenish brown to orange
brown. A mature tree can produce over 250 fruits per year.

Cultivars and Related Species

There are
few named cultivars of mamey. 'Redland' is a cultivar with perfect
flowers.

Another Mammea
species is M. africana, known as the obota, abricotier d'Afrique, African
mammee apple or African apricot, and native to tropical Africa.

Uses

Mamey is primarily consumed fresh, but is also used to make
jams, marmalades, pies, tarts and liqueurs.

Nutritional composition per 100 g mamey fruit

Carbohydrate

10 g

Fat

0.1 g

Protein

0.5 g

Calcium

5 mg

Phosphorous

46 mg

Iron

0.5 mg

Carotene

0.4 mg

Vitamin B1

0.02 mg

Vitamin B2

0.04 mg

Niacin

0.6 mg

Vitamin C

2 mg

The resin exuding from the trunk is used as an insecticide
and acaricide. A seed extract is used to control mange and fleas in
animals. Leaves and roots also have insecticidal properties.

The tree, with its glossy green leaves and symmetrical
shape, is also a beautiful ornamental.